The inexact science of recruiting

Covering the world of recruiting is tough work. Not in the backbreaking labor sense, but tough work nonetheless.

The primary obstacle is the NCAA law that prevents coaches from discussing their recruits. That cuts out the most reliable information source right off the bat. Then add in the fact that your primary source of information is 17 and 18 year old kids, it is easy to understand how following a lead can sometimes feel like playing a game of telephone.

Take today for example. I had the pleasure of speaking to a prospect who had previously told Rivals.com that he had a scholarship offer from the University of Connecticut. When asked about his relationship with the program, he explained that he didn't quite have an offer. Rather, he was told that he would be offered upon his visit to the school in January.

According to Rivals100.com recruiting expert Mike Farrell, this is a common situation, as recruits often misinterpret conversations they have with college coaches. The recruiting process is confusing to even the most savvy teenagers. This, in turn, filters through to the recruiting updates published by Rivals.com and other media outlets.

"It's a tricky business for us, because the only way to verify this type of info is through the acquisition of numerous 'off the record' sources," said Farrell. "Even then, it's sometimes hard to tell whether a kid truly has a written offer or is just being slow-played (strung on) by a school. As always, it's an inexact science."

The moral of the story is to enjoy your daily dose of Boneyard recruiting - but don't take the word of a teenager, or the word of a writer for that matter, as law. Our best attempts to paint an accurate picture of the recruiting landscape often fall short. As Farrell says, this is an inexact science - but an exciting one nonetheless!